© Richard StonierRARE FIND: A Kumlien’s gull, which comes from Arctic Canada, has been spotted in Pembrokeshire
The storms that have battered Pembrokeshire in recent weeks have brought with them a number of Arctic visitors.
One of the worst affected areas, Newgale, has been the focal point for local and visiting bird watchers.
Rare gulls, such as Glaucous and Iceland gulls, have been spotted on the beach and on the nearby flooded marshes.
Hundreds of Kittiwakes have also been seen. These small gulls normally stay further out to sea and only come inshore when storms hit.
At Newgale they have been feasting on wrecked shellfish.
The rarest visitor found so far is the Kumlien's gull,
which comes from Arctic Canada. It can be found close to the Brandy Brook outflow.
To learn more visit www.birdsonline.co.uk
Comment: For the last couple of months, across the northern hemisphere, extremely cold weather conditions have been driving many wintering Arctic and boreal bird species much further south than is usual. These include Snowy Owls recorded in Hawaii and Bermuda!! Additionally, many are turning up in unprecedented numbers. This all points to a probable return of the Ice Age. See also this selection: UK storms bring in rare Arctic gulls to Pembrokeshire
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